Reporting to Parents
The portfolio is the key way we report to you regarding the achievement of your child.
Things you should know about the portfolio:
· The portfolio has been updated this year in response to:
o the government’s requirement to implement national standards;
o best practice in New Zealand in reporting to parents; and
o feedback we received about last year’s portfolio.
· The portfolio replaces the traditional school report. Teachers can provide much more detailed information about your child’s learning and achievement in a portfolio. The portfolio will, however, contain an end of year summary report. For all children (excluding new entrant children) we will provide information regarding your child’s achievement against National Standards, your child’s reading and spelling ages (Year 2-6) as well as a general comment referring to both core subjects and other learning areas contained in the portfolio.
· The first section of the portfolio relates specifically to National Standards. The second section outlines your child’s achievement in areas other than just mathematics, reading and writing. This includes addressing the learner profile (refer to the PYP brochure available on the home page), transdisciplinary units of inquiry (involving multiple curriculum areas) and specialist subjects.
· Portfolios will be sent home twice a year, however they are readily accessible throughout the year to view in your child’s class.
· As well as informing you, the portfolio has been designed to inform and involve your child in having a thorough understanding of their own learning. Through the information contained in the portfolio, your child can share their successes, identify the areas they need to improve and discuss their next learning steps.
· The three-way conferences scheduled for Week 9 of Term 2 provide an opportunity for you, your child and their teacher to discuss your child’s achievement using the portfolio as a discussion document.
Other ways you can be informed and involved in your child’s learning:
· All Year 3, 4, 5 & 6 students this year are using one book to complete the majority of their written work, especially in relation to their unit of inquiry. The one book system allows children to focus on the central idea of their current unit of inquiry and to develop transdisciplinary links across different subjects related to that central idea. Teachers are better able to provide specific feedback when conferencing with their students using mainly one book. After each unit of inquiry the ‘one book’ will be sent home, providing parents with an opportunity to view and discuss with their child what they have been working on at school for the last 5 to 6 weeks.
· Parents of Year 4, 5 & 6 students can access their child’s achievement on e-asTTle tests (Assessment Tools for Teaching and Learning) conducted in March and November each year. Your child has been informed of their own log-on which can be used at https://e-asttle.education.govt.nz/StudentWeb/login.faces
Contact your child’s classroom teacher if you have queries.
· All parents can be involved in their child’s learning through the learning management section of this website, the Ultranet. Parents are encouraged to log-on with their child to fully explore our website. Your child should know their own log-on. The home learning section in the website also provides a way parents can participate with their child’s learning at home.
· At any stage of the year you can request an individual meeting with your child’s teacher. Alternatively, you can email teachers (allowing adequate time for our busy teachers to reply) using their first name, a dot, the first letter of their surname, then @willowpark.school.nz. For example, jeff.j@willowpark.school.nz
We value your interest and involvement in your child’s education.